Signal system for elevators.



E. L. DUNN.

SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION men nov. 13. I913.

1,255,866. Patented Feb.12,191&

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

anwwtoz E. L. DUNN.

SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS,

APPLICAI'ION FILED NOV. I3, 1913.

1,255,866. Patented Feb.12,1918.

2 SHEET$SHEEI' 2.

wi imwm aavwe Wm M anew/me 64 Kg "62mm Z /V mwa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. DUNN, OF WORCESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- KENTS, '10 STANDARD PLUNGER ELEVATOR SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHU- SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS.

Specification 01 Letters :atent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. DUNN, a citizen of the United States residing at lVorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Systems for Elevators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to signal s stems for elevators, and has particular re erence to systems intended for use in department stores or the like wherein the traffic is very dense, and where the elevators stop at practically every floor in both directions throughout the day. In such a system, especially where the elevators are arranged in groups, it is necessary to inform waiting passengers on the floors both the direction in which the cars are moving, and the particular car which will first sto at the passengers floor. It is also desirable to inform passengers in the car of the several floors so that they will not be carried by their intended stop. The ordinary painted floor numbers are unsatisfactory for this purpose, because they are not readily visible and do not attract suflicient attention.

This invention, therefore, has reference to signaling both for passengers on the floors and passengers in the cars, and it relates to a novel combination of devices whereby a traveling dial indicator for each well door is automatically illuminated to differently indicate the approach of an ascending or descending car, and also to an automatically operated well room signal indicating the various floors in advance of the arrival of the car.

In. carrying out the foregoing objects, flash indicators of improved construction are provided both for the well room openings and also in the well room for the floor numbers, together with a novel reversing commutator machine for controlling the several circuits in proper order and in proper relation to the direction of the car.

In this machine, it is necessary to cause the flash signals, preferably red for down and white for up, to illuminate the dial indicators several floors in advance of the arrival of the car in order that time will not be lost waiting for intending passengers to reach the doorway, and when the car is at either limit the indicators at immediate adjacent floors must be illuminated to properly indicate the travel of the car.- The attainment of this object involves a novel form of commutator machine in which the direction switch is automatically advanced a predetermined amount as the car leaves each limit in order to prevent down signals being energized when the car is going up, and vice versa.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings Wherein-- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the machine, the circuits and signals;

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the general arrangement with reference to an elevator as viewed from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the indicators, the dial being partly removed; and

"Fig. 4 shows one of the well room floor indicators.

At each floor before each elevator door there will be located a receptacle containing two or more lamps, half of which will be preferably red and half preferably white, the red and white lights being separated by partitions, and the red lights being preferably energized by an overhead commutator machine to indicate a downwardly moving car, and the white lights similarly energized to indicate an upwardly moving car. The red lamps for the dial are in diagonal arrangement with relation to each other, the white lamps intervening and being in opposite diagonal arrangement, so that the red lights will diffuse more evenly over the entire dial when illuminated, and also the white lights. Thus the entire dial is more evenly lighted, than would be the case with a single red and white light. The outside of the receptacle will be covered with a translucent glass dial having floor indications etched or painted on the glass.

Passing horizontally through the dial will be a shaft carrying a pointer located outside of the glass and connected to the elevator machine so that each pointer will be driven in synchronism therewith and in corresponding direction. In order to call particular attention to the approaching car, the dial will become luminous, either from the red lights or the white lights, depending upon the direction of the car, and these flash signals will be arranged to light several floors in advance of the arrival of the car and will be extinguished as the car passes the floor. To indicate the floors topassengers in the cars, below each well room door there will be located a receptacle containing a lamp which will be similarly controlled from the elevator machine, and having a glass face carrying the floor number. This floor number will be lighted before the car reaches the floor and will remain lighted until the car passes, thereby notifying the passengers of the number of each fioor. When the ear arrives at. a limit floor. there will be two signals lighted, one being the dial indicator outside the well room indicating the presence of the car, and also the well room light indicating the limit floor.

Referring to Fig. 1, which shows a diagram for five floors, U U U U and U represent up lights located above the doors of each floor, and D D D D, D represent corresponding down lights, the lights U, as above stated, being preferably white and the lights D being preferably red. W W V 1V 1V represent the well room lights, each of which is of any desired color and located in the well room preferably under a door, similarly to the present painted numbers. Mounted at the top of the hatchway adjacent the overhead sheave of each machine is a stationary slate A carrying a supporting ring B on which are adjustably mounted contacts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 corresponding to the various floors, from each of which lead wires to the lights U, D, W for each floor. -As the lights \V are not reversed with the direction of the car, they are all connected to a common return wire Z. The supply current comes in through wire Y, thence to an oscillating switch blade C thence through one of two stationary rings R, R to brushes R R carried by a revolving slate S and thence through contactors A A to the floor contacts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. The contactors A, A, have extended arcs for engagement with more than one contact point at a time and they are so positioned on the slate S that they will light the lamps of each floor some distance in advance of the arrival of the car at that floor. They are also so spaced on the periphery of the slate S that the reversal of the switch arm C will, on reversal of the car, transfer the current to arm A on the down trip and back to arm A on the up trip. The switch C is automatically reversed as the car reverses its travel, so that only one of the rings R or R is alive at a time, and consequently only one of the contactors A, A The ring R is therefore alive when the slate S is turning clockwise or in the down di ection as shown in Fig. 1, and the ring R is alive when the slate S is turning in the opposite or up direction, so that the well room lights the up direction by the contactor A is a switch similar to C,

W etc., are lighted and extinguished in the down direction by the contactor A and which is pivoted to oscillate between contacts 13, 13 All of the up lights U etc., lead by wire N to contact B and all of the down lights, D etc., lead by wire M to contact 13. The contacts C C B B are pulled together by springs and are also provided with stop pins to limit their inward movement. From switch blade B a wire K leads to the car, and is provided with a cut-out switch L, which the car operator will open when he cannot take any more passengers, thereby preventing energization of the up or down floor lights, depending upon the direction in which the car is going, it being seen that the circuit from contacts B or B is through switch blade B and wire K to return wire Z.

The slate S is bolted to a worm gear Q, which is driven by a worm P mounted on a reciprocating shaft F. This shaft reciprocates between fixed bearings 8, and the amount of reciprocation is determined by the length of the worm P, being made sufficient to automatically reverse the switches C B through collars E E by the thrust of the worm whenever the direction of rotation of shaft F is changed by the reversing of the elevator car. The shaft F carries a sprocket wheel 10 which is driven by a chain 11 from the shaft 12 of the overhead sheave 13 of the elevator. 14; is the counterweight, 15 the counterweight cable, 16 the car, and 17 the lifting plunger. Of course, any other kind of hoisting motor can be used instead of the hydraulic plunger herein shown. The shaft F also drives through sprocket chain 16, the worm wheel 18 mounted on a vertical shaft 19 extending through the hatehway. At each floor is provided a flexible shaft 20, which drives the indicator pointer 21 moving over the glass dial 22, so that the several indicators 21 all move in synchronism with the car.

In Fig. 3 is shown a detail of one of the dials, having four partitions 25, in each of which is one light, two of these lights, preferably opposite ones, being red, and the remaining two white and connected as above described. 26 is the glass over which moves the pointer 21. Fig. 4 represents one of the well room indicators containing two lights 1V and having a glass face 28.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by suitably proportioning the cd'ntactors A, A and by providing a proper lost motion at the worm, the floor lights can be automatically reversed and advanced to any desired degree, so that when the elevator starts from one terminal in either direction the indications will be properly advanced. It will also be seen that should the cars be reversed intermediate of the floor landings,

the same automatic reverse and advance of the flashlights will take place, so that in case an operator passes a floor and then returns, the entire system will not be put out of order or require a trip to the terminal in order to properly set it. It will be understood that instead of the vertical shaft drive herein shown for the indicator pointers, any other suitable means can be usedf Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an elevator signaling system, a car, up and down corridor lights at each floor, a transparent numbered dial inclosing said lights, a switch traveling with the car for flashing said lights in different combinations according to the direction of movement of the car, a pointer movable with the car and traveling over said transparent numbered dial, a well room light for each floor,a transparent numbered dial inclosing said light, and connections for said well room lights controlled by said traveling switch.

2. In an elevator signaling system, up and down corridor lights, circuits for said lights comprising a traveling switch, well lights, connections therefor controlled by said traveling switch, and means on the car for cutting out the corridor lights and leaving the well lights under control.

3. In an-elevator signaling system, flash lights connected through a double throw switch at one terminal of the supply circuit and connected on the other side to a series of contact points, contact arms movable with the car and engaging said contact points, and means for connecting said arms through a second double throw switch to the other terminal of the supply circuit.

4. In an elevator signaling system, flash lights connected through a double throw switch at one terminal of the supply circuit and connected on the other side to a series of contact points, contact arms movable with the car and engaging said Contact points, means I for connecting said arms through a second double throw switch to the other terminal of the supply circuit, and means for actuating the contact arms and throwing both switches before reversing the direction of movement of said arms.

5. In an elevator signaling system, well lights illuminating the floor numbers and up and down lights in the corridor, means for connecting one side of the lights to one terminal of the supply circuit, and means for connecting the other side of the lights to a series of contacts points, contact arms movable with the car and engaging said points, and means for connecting said arms through a double throw switch to the other terminal of the supply circuit.

6. In an elevator signaling system, an up and a down signal at each floor, a traveling switch for successively actuating said signals in advance of the car, a gear for driving said switch, and a slidable and rotatable worm for driving said gear.

In an elevator Signaling system, a plurality of flash signals at each floor, a m0vable direction switch for setting the circuits of certain of said signals for one direction and other of said signals for the other direction of travel of the car, traveling switches for successively energizing said signals through one or the other position of said direction switch, a second direction switch cooperating with said traveling switches, and a single means for driving said traveling switches and actuating said direction switches when the car is reversed.

8. In an elevator signaling system, a plurality of signals each making a different indication, a reversible switch for setting the circuit of one or the other of said signals, a traveling switch for completing the circuit of one or the other of said signal" and means for driving said traveling switch and operating said reversing switch comprising a longitudinally movable shaft and worm and a gear in mesh with said worm.

9. In an elevator signaling system, a plurality of floor signals each making a different indication, a plurality of well room floor signals, a reversible switch for setting the circuit of one or the other of said signals, a traveling switch for completing the circuit of one or the other of said floor signals and successively energizing said well room signals, and means for driving said traveling switch and operating said reversing switch comprising a longitudinally movable shaft and worm and a gear in mesh with said worm.

10. In an elevator signaling system, a corridor direction and motion indicator having differently colored lights Within it and comprising a dial having floor indications, a pointer traveling over said dial and driven by the elevator motor, portions of said dial being differently colored by said lights, and means for automatically flashing one or any of said lights in advance of the arrival of the car, to display different colors according to the direction of travel of the car.

11. In an elevator signaling system, a cor ridor direction and motion indicator having differently colored lights within it and comprising a dial having floor indications, a pointer traveling over said dial and driven by the elevator motor, portions of said dial being differently colored by said lights, means for automatically flashing one or any of said lights in advance of the arrival of the car, to display different colors accord: ing to the direction of travel of the car, and means on the car for cutting out the said lights.

12. In an elevator signaling system, a corridor direction and motion indicator comprising ditferently colored lights and a dial having floor indications thereon, a pointer traveling over said dial and driven by the elevator motor, portions of said dial being diflerently colored by said lights, means for automatically flashing one or any of said lights in advance of the arrival of the car, to display diflerent colors according to the direction of travel, and a floor indicator in the well room controlled by said flashing means.

18. In an elevator signal system, two differently colored flash lights at each floor door, a numbered dial covering said lights, a pointer moving over said dial and driven by the car, a double contact traveling switch driven by the car, a reversing switch coupled to said traveling switch to be reversed when said traveling switch'is reversed, separate circuits including said switches and said lights whereby to flash one of said lights for each direction of travel.

14. In an elevator signal system, two differently colored flash lights at each floor door, a numbered dial covering said lights, a pointer moving over said dial and driven by the car, a double contact traveling switch driven by the car, a reversing switch coupled to said traveling switch to be reversed when said traveling switch is reversed, separate circuits including said switches and said lights whereby to flas one of said lights for each direction of travel, and a well room floor light for each floor also controlled by said traveling switch.

15. In an elevator system, the combination with a movable car, of a plate within the elevator well room at each floor bearing the number of the floor and positioned to be visible to the occupants of the car, a lamp for illuminating each plate respectively, a member traveling with the car, signals for indicating the direction of movement of the car controlled by said member, and a switch moved by said member and successively lighting each of said lamps to illuminate each of said plates successively while in view of the occupants of the car.

16. In an elevator system, an illuminated corridor signal comprising a transparent or translucent numbered dial and differently colored lights therefor, an indicator driven by the elevator and traveling over said dial, portions of said dial being differently colored by said lights, and automatic means controlled by the car for flashing said lights according to the direction of the car and a predetermined number of floors in advance of the arrival of the car at the floor.

17. In an elevator signaling system, a corridor direction and motion indicator comprising a dial having floor indications thereon, a pointer traveling over said dial and driven by the elevator motor, a plurality of differently colored lights within said indicator, means for automatically flashing one of said lights in advance of the arrival of the car, according to the direction of travel, a floor indicator in the well room controlled by said flashing means, and a car switch for controlling one or the other of said lights according to the direction of travel.

18. In an elevator signaling system, a corridor direction and motion indicator comprising a dial having floor indications thereon, a pointer traveling over said dial and movable with the car, means within said dial in certain relative arrangement and showing one color on said dial when illuminated, and alternating means within said dial showing another color when illuminated, and means controlled by the car for illuminating one or the other of said colors according to the direction of the car and at a predetermined distance in advance of the arrival of the car.

19. In an elevator signaling system, a corridor direction and motion indicator comprising a transparent or translucent dial having floor indications thereon, a pointer traveling over said dial and movable with the car, one lighting means within said dial showing one color on the face of the dial, a secopd lighting means within said dial showinga different color on the face of the dial, and means controlled by the car for flashing one or the other of said lighting means according to the direction of movement of the car.

20 In an elevator system, the combination with a movable car, of a plate within the elevator well room at each floor bearing the number of the floor and positioned to be visible to the occupants of the car, a lamp for illuminating each plate respectively, a member traveling with the car, electric signals for indicating the direction of movement of the car controlled by said member, and a switch moved by said member for controlling said signals and successively lighting each of said lamps to illuminate each of said plates successively while in view of the occupants of the car.

In testimony whereof I aitix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD L. DUNN.

Witnesses:

H. L. KUGLER, M. F. KELLEY. 

